Pressure transducer with integral bleed valve

ABSTRACT

The disclosed technology is a pressure transducer with a bleed valve built into the body of the transducer for purging liquid systems. The transducer assembly includes a body, a bleed valve port defined in the body and configured to accept a bleed valve, an interface port attached to the body, an adapter attached to a portion of the interface port, a header attached to the adapter and the body, a pressure transducer mounted to the header, and an internal cavity in communication with the interface port, the pressure transducer, and the bleed valve port. The bleed valve port is configured to vent a gas from the internal cavity. A bleed valve disposed in the bleed valve port is configured to controllably vent a gas from the internal cavity.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/184,710, filed 8 Nov. 2018, which claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/583,550, filed on 9 Nov. 2017, entitled:“Pressure Transducer with Integral Bleed Valve,” the contents of whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if presentedherein in full.

FIELD

The disclosed technology relates to a pressure transducer with a bleedvalve built into the body of the transducer for purging liquid systems.

BACKGROUND

It is known that the presence of air and/or other gases in a pressurizedliquid can greatly affect the properties of the system. For example,entrained air in brake systems and/or hydraulic systems can impact thebulk modulus of the liquid. As discussed in “A Study of Bulk Modulus,Entrained Air, and Dynamic Pressure Measurements in Liquids,” Hurst A.M. and Joe VanDeWeert, ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power, The AmericanSociety of Mechanical Engineers Digital Collection, Apr. 26, 2016, thebulk modulus and the entrained/dissolved gas content within the liquidcan greatly impact the observed frequency response of a pressuretransducer monitoring the system.

Gases, such as air, mixed or dissolved into a fluid can also addsubstantial damping to the dynamic response of the fluid measurementsystem. Thus, knowledge of the bulk modulus and entrained and/ordissolved air may be needed for accurate measurement of the frequencyresponse of a system when operating with a liquid media. However, it isnot usually practical (or possible) to perform such bulk modulusmeasurements on such systems but, rather, it is desirable to be able topurge the gas out of these systems.

Air purging is normally accomplished via a standard bleed valve thatallows a user to turn a plug, for example, to allow gas to escape. Thereare many times when the pressure of the system needs to be monitored forcontrol, etc. In these cases, it is necessary to have a vent region inthe system for the bleed valve, and another region for the pressuretransducer. Such systems can be disadvantageous as it requires twoopenings in the system, which can increase the risk of leaks and addmore bulk to the system. A need exists for systems and methods thataddress such issues.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Certain example implementations of the disclosed technology may includesystems and methods for integrating a bleed valve into a transducer bodyfor purging air from liquid systems.

The disclosed technology includes a transducer assembly having a body, ableed valve port defined in the body and configured to accept a bleedvalve, an interface port attached to the body, an adapter attached to aportion of the interface port, a header attached to the adapter and thebody, a pressure transducer mounted to the header, and an internalcavity in communication with the interface port, the pressuretransducer, and the bleed valve port, wherein the bleed valve port isconfigured to vent a gas from the internal cavity. In certain exampleimplementations, a bleed valve is disposed in the bleed valve port andis configured to controllably vent a gas from the internal cavity.

The disclosed technology further includes a method of assembling apressure transducer assembly. The method includes providing a bodyhaving a bleed valve port configured to accept a bleed valve, attachingan interface port to the body, securing an adaptor to a back side of theinterface port, securing a header to the adapter, mounting a pressuretransducer to the header, wherein, an internal cavity is defined betweenand in communication with the interface port, the pressure transducer,and the bleed valve port, and installing a bleed valve in the bleedvalve port, wherein the bleed valve is configured to vent a gas from theinternal cavity.

The disclosed technology includes a method of bleeding gas from apressure port and measuring a pressure of a fluid in communication withthe pressure port. The method includes installing the (above referenced)pressure transducer assembly in a pressure port, installing a bleedvalve in the bleed valve port of the pressure transducer assembly,applying pressurized fluid to the pressure port, temporarily opening thebleed valve to allow gas to escape an internal cavity of the pressuretransducer assembly, measuring, with the pressure transducer, a pressureof the applied pressurized fluid, and outputting, with the pressuretransduce assembly, a signal corresponding to the measured pressure.

Other implementations, features, and aspects of the disclosed technologyare described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimeddisclosed technology. Other implementations, features, and aspects canbe understood with reference to the following detailed description,accompanying drawings, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A depicts system 100 having a standard port 102 through a wallportion 104 of the system 100 in which a standard bleed valve 106 isinstalled and shown in a closed position.

FIG. 1B depicts the system 100 with the bleed valve 106 in a ventingposition.

FIG. 2 depicts a pressure transducer assembly 200 having bleed valveport 202 built into the body 204 of the assembly 200, according to anexample implementation of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 3 is flow diagram of a method 300, according to an exampleimplementation of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 4 is flow diagram of a method 400, according to an exampleimplementation of the disclosed technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed technology includes systems and methods related to apressure transducer with an integral bleed valve built into the body ofthe pressure transducer. In accordance with certain exampleimplementations of the disclosed technology, the integral bleed valvearrangement may provide an improved apparatus that enables bleeding air(or other gases) out of the system and monitoring pressure of a fluid inthe system while utilizing only one access port to the system.

Certain example implementations include a transducer apparatusconfigured with an integrated bleed valve port, standard bleed valvefront seal, and coupling arrangement, so it is possible to replace anormal bleed valve in an existing system without the need for new portsto be installed.

FIG. 1A depicts system 100 having a standard port 102 through a wallportion 104 (such as a pipe, header, etc.) of the system 100 in which astandard bleed valve 106 is installed and shown in a closed position.FIG. 1B depicts the system 100 with the bleed valve 106 in a ventingposition. The wall portion 104 and the bleed valve 106 may includecorresponding threaded portions 108, for example, that allow the bleedvalve 106 to be screwed into the port 102 such that a front cone 110 ofthe bleed valve 106 is pressed against a corresponding surface of thewall portion 104 to seal the port 102.

As depicted in FIG. 1B, when the bleed valve 106 is backed out slightly(for example, by turning or slightly unscrewing), a path 112 around thefront cone 110 opens to allow air 114 to escape through a bore 116 inthe center of the bleed valve 106, and out an open end to an externalenvironment. In certain systems, the bleed valves 106 may be installedin a location that collects air and/or other gasses, for example at thetop-most section of a system in which gasses will naturally rise andcollect for easy venting.

FIG. 2 depicts a pressure transducer assembly 200 having a bleed valveport 202 built into the body 204 of the assembly 200, according to anexample implementation of the disclosed technology. In accordance withcertain example implementations, the transducer assembly 200 may includea single protruding interface port 206 configured and shaped such thatit may be threaded into a standard bleed valve port (such as port 102 ofFIG. 1A) and sealed (similar to sealing the front cone 110 of the bleedvalve 106 when it is pressed against a corresponding surface of the wallportion 104 to seal the port 102, as shown in FIG. 1A).

In accordance with certain example implementations of the disclosedtechnology, and as shown in FIG. 2 , an adaptor 208 may be welded 210 tothe back of the port 206. In certain example implementations, a glassmetal seal header 212 may be welded to the adapter, such as described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,999,082, which is incorporated herein by reference as ifpresented in full. In certain example implementations, the header 212may be an oil filled header. In certain example implementations, theheader 212 may be leadless, such as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,955,771, which is incorporated herein by reference as if presented infull. In certain example implementations of the disclosed technology,the header 212 may be any other type, depending on the characteristicsneeded. According to an example implementation of the disclosedtechnology, a pressure sensing chip 214 may be mounted to the header212.

According to an example implementation of the disclosed technology, andas briefly mentioned above, the bleed valve port 202 in the body 204 ofthe assembly may be configured to accept a standard bleed valve 216(which in certain example implementations may be the same or similar asthe bleed valve 106 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B). In a similar way asdescribed above with respect to FIG. 1B, the bleed valve 216 can beselectively backed out (unscrewed, etc.) to remove air from the systemthrough the body of the transducer. Furthermore, in certain exampleimplementations, the bleed valve 216 may also be used to bleed air fromthe cavity 218 of the transducer assembly 200 so that no air is trappedin the transducer assembly 200, or so that the amount of trapped air canbe reduced.

In accordance with certain example implementations of the disclosedtechnology, the interface port 206 may be characterized by an outershape configured equivalent to an outer shape of a bleed valve.

In certain example implementations, the bleed valve port 202 in the body204 may be configured to have an inner shape substantially equivalent toan outer shape of a bleed valve 216.

FIG. 3 is flow diagram of a method 300, according to an exampleimplementation of the disclosed technology. In block 302, the method 300includes providing a body having a bleed valve port configured to accepta bleed valve. In block 304, the method 300 includes attaching aninterface port to the body. In block 306, the method 300 securing anadaptor to a back side of the interface port. In block 308, the methodincludes securing a header to the adapter. In block 310, the method 300includes mounting a pressure transducer to the header, wherein, aninternal cavity is defined between and in communication with theinterface port, the pressure transducer, and the bleed valve port. Inblock 312, the method 300 includes installing a bleed valve in the bleedvalve port, wherein the bleed valve is configured to vent a gas from theinternal cavity.

In certain example implementations, the header 212 can comprise a glass.In certain example implementations, the header 212 can comprise a glassseal. In accordance with certain example implementations of thedisclosed technology, the header may accept a back portion of thepressure transducer 214 such that the pressure transducer 214 may besecured and sealed to the header 212.

According to an example implementation of the disclosed technology, theinterface port 206 may be configured to have substantially the sameshape as a portion of a standard bleed valve.

According to the various example embodiments disclosed herein, theinterface port 206 may be a single male interface port configuredinterface with a corresponding female bleed-valve port, for example,associated with a separate device or machine (not shown, but may berepresented by the wall portion in FIG. 1 ). In certain exampleimplementations, the transducer assembly 200 may interface directly withthe female bleed-valve port of a separate device, machine, pipe, header,etc., in a same or similar fashion as a bleed valve would interface withthe female bleed-valve port.

According to an example implementation, the interface port 206 caninclude a bore extending axially from a first side to a second side ofthe interface port 206 such that fluid, for example, may enter theinternal cavity 218 of the transducer assembly 200 via the interfaceport 206.

In accordance with certain example implementations of the disclosedtechnology, the bleed valve port 202 in the body 204 may be configuredto have an inner shape configured substantially equivalent to an outershape of a standard bleed valve.

In certain example implementations, securing the adaptor 208 to the backside of the interface port 206 can include joining the adaptor to theback side of the interface port with a weld 210.

In certain example implementations, securing the header 212 to theadapter 208 can include joining the header to the adapter with a weldand/or glass seal.

FIG. 4 is flow diagram of a method 400 for bleeding gas from a pressureport and measuring a pressure of a fluid in communication with thepressure port. In block 402, the method 400 includes installing apressure transducer assembly in a pressure port. In block 404, themethod 400 includes installing a bleed valve in a bleed valve port ofthe pressure transducer assembly. In block 406, the method 400 includesapplying pressurized fluid to the pressure port. In block 408, themethod 400 includes temporarily opening the bleed valve to allow gas toescape an internal cavity of the pressure transducer assembly. In block410, the method 400 includes measuring, with the pressure transducer, apressure of the applied pressurized fluid. In block 412, the method 400includes outputting, with the pressure transduce assembly, a signalcorresponding to the measured pressure.

Certain example implementations of the disclosed technology may providecertain technical benefits, particularly for systems in which pressureof liquid media is measured. For example, one benefit of the system isthe unanticipated advantage of allowing for the bleeding of air from thetransducer body so that little or no air is trapped inside thetransducer body. Another technical benefit includes the reduction of thenumber of ports that need to be installed in a system since thetransducer and the bleed valve may share a common port in communicationwith the internal liquid in the system. Such technical advantages mayhelp increase the reliability of the system, reduce bulk, and in somecases, may allow the transducer assembly 200 to be installed in anexisting bleed valve port.

As discussed in the background section above, it is well known that airin a transducer cavity can affect the frequency response of themeasurement. Certain example implementations of the disclosed technologymay enable an easy method for fully purging the system of air, includinggasses in the transducer cavity, to get the maximum possible frequencyresponse. Certain example implementations of the disclosed technologymay further allow for filters inside the transducer for controllingfrequency response, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,470,596, whichis incorporated herein by reference as if presented in full.

It is important to recognize that it is impractical to describe everyconceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes ofdescribing the claimed subject matter. However, a person having ordinaryskill in the art will recognize that many further combinations andpermutations of the subject technology are possible. Accordingly, theclaimed subject matter is intended to cover all such alterations,modifications, and variations that are within the spirit and scope ofthe claimed subject matter.

Throughout the specification and the claims, the following terms take atleast the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. The term “connect,” “connecting,” and“connected” mean that one function, feature, structure, orcharacteristic is directly joined to or in communication with anotherfunction, feature, structure, or characteristic. The term “couple,”“coupling,” and “coupled” mean that one function, feature, structure, orcharacteristic is directly or indirectly joined to or in communicationwith another function, feature, structure, or characteristic. Relationalterms such as “first” and “second,” and the like may be used solely todistinguish one entity or action from another entity or action withoutnecessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or orderbetween such entities or actions. The term “or” is intended to mean aninclusive “or.” Further, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended tomean one or more unless specified otherwise or clear from the context tobe directed to a singular form. The term “include” and its various formsare intended to mean including but not limited to. The terms“substantially,” “essentially,” “approximately,” “about” or any otherversion thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one ofordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the termis defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in anotherembodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. A device orstructure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in atleast that way but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

As disclosed herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However,it is to be understood that embodiments of the disclosed technology maybe practiced without these specific details. References to “oneembodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “variousembodiments,” and other like terms indicate that the embodiments of thedisclosed technology so described may include a particular function,feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodimentnecessarily includes the particular function, feature, structure, orcharacteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment”does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may.

Although this disclosure describes specific examples, embodiments, andthe like, certain modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosed technology, as set forth inthe claims below. For example, although the example methods, devices andsystems, described herein are in conjunction with a pressure transduceror a sensor, the skilled artisan will readily recognize that the examplemethods, devices or systems may be used in other methods, devices orsystems and may be configured to correspond to such other examplemethods, devices or systems as needed. Further, while at least oneexample, embodiment, or the like has been presented in the detaileddescription, many variations exist. Accordingly, the specification andfigures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictivesense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within thescope of the present disclosure. Any benefits, advantages, or solutionsto problems that are described herein with regard to specificembodiments or examples are not intended to be construed as a critical,required, or essential feature or element of any or all of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A transducer assembly, comprising: an interfaceport configured to receive a media; an adapter welded to at least aportion of the interface port; a bleed valve body welded to at least aportion of the interface port and at least partially forming an internalcavity of the transducer assembly, wherein the bleed valve bodycomprises a bleed valve port that is configured for joining with a bleedvalve, wherein the bleed valve body is configured to have an inner shapesubstantially equivalent to an outer shape of the bleed valve; a headerjoined to the bleed valve body and the adapter, and at least partiallyforming the internal cavity, wherein the header is configured to accepta pressure transducer; and a pressure transducer mounted on the headerwithin the internal cavity and configured to measure a pressure of themedia.
 2. The transducer assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bleedvalve disposed in the bleed valve port.
 3. The transducer assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the bleed valve disposed in the bleed valve port isconfigured to controllably vent a gas from the internal cavity.
 4. Thetransducer assembly of claim 1, wherein the interface port ischaracterized by a male protrusion.
 5. The transducer assembly of claim1, wherein the interface port is a single interface port.
 6. Thetransducer assembly of claim 1, wherein the interface port comprises abore extending from a first side to a second side of the interface port.7. The transducer assembly of claim 6, wherein the bore is incommunication with the internal cavity.
 8. The transducer assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the bleed valve port in the body is characterized by aninner shape configured equivalent to an outer shape of a bleed valve. 9.A method of assembling a pressure transducer assembly, the methodcomprising: providing a body having a bleed valve port configured toaccept a bleed valve; attaching an interface port to the body; securingan adaptor to a back side of the interface port; securing a header tothe adapter; mounting a pressure transducer to the header, wherein, aninternal cavity is defined between and in communication with theinterface port, the pressure transducer, and the bleed valve port; andinstalling a bleed valve in the bleed valve port, wherein the bleedvalve is configured to vent a gas from the internal cavity.
 10. Themethod of claim 9 wherein the header comprises a glass seal.
 11. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the interface port is configured to havesubstantially the same shape as a portion of a standard bleed valve. 12.The method of claim 9, wherein the interface port is a single interfaceport.
 13. The method of claim 9, further comprising defining a boreextending from a first side to a second side of the interface port. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein the bore is configured to be incommunication with the internal cavity.
 15. The method of claim 9,wherein the bleed valve port in the body is configured to have an innershape configured equivalent to an outer shape of a bleed valve.
 16. Themethod of claim 9, wherein securing the adaptor to the back side of theinterface port comprises joining the adaptor to the back side of theinterface port with a weld.
 17. The method of claim 9, wherein securingthe header to the adapter comprises joining the header to the adapterwith a weld.
 18. A method of bleeding gas from a pressure port andmeasuring a pressure of a fluid in communication with the pressure port,the method comprising: installing a pressure transducer assembly in thepressure port, wherein the pressure transducer assembly comprises: abody; a bleed valve port in the body, the bleed valve port configured toaccept a bleed valve; an interface port attached to the body; an adapterattached to a portion of the interface port; a header attached to theadapter and the body; a pressure transducer mounted to the header; andan internal cavity in communication with the interface port, thepressure transducer, and the bleed valve port, wherein the bleed valveport is configured to vent a gas from the internal cavity; installing ableed valve in the bleed valve port; applying pressurized fluid to thepressure port; temporarily opening the bleed valve to allow gas toescape the internal cavity; measuring, with the pressure transducer, apressure of the applied pressurized fluid; and outputting, with thepressure transduce assembly, a signal corresponding to the measuredpressure.